Hello All,

I just got back from Ethiopia a few days ago and i promised few months back to blog from there. A few month back i was managed to elude the censorship by using proxy but after few days later i couldn't get to the proxy sites to blog ER.

Here is my honest opinion and i will discuss in detail over the next few days if you guys are interested.

Investment: When i went to Ethiopia few years back, my views were shaped by politics so i was disinterested in listening my relatives brag about the huge growth they saw in terms of their own wealth and the country transformation. At first i was dismissive of their opinions because i honestly believe at the time seeing brand new buildings doesn't mean Ethiopians are doing better rather i made a point of mentioning that the building are owned and operated by Woyannie. Today i partially feel the same way. Sure most building i saw are owned by Woyannie folks but they are employing Ethiopian men and women and these folks will one day going to open their own company and compete with their former employer. In fact it's happening as we speak. There are many Ethiopians who worked for Woyannie affiliated companies in the past and went ahead and become successful business men and women.

The economic policy makers inside the government are doing tremendous job in terms of setting the right policy when it comes to investment. For instance, my good friend went back to Ethiopia to do commercial farming in southern Ethiopia. He tells me the government doesn't tax the produce for 5 years and the equipment he brought from abroad is duty free, The government also provides farming experts to commercial farmers free off charge. and many incentives to insure their success. This sort of things never been done in country history and we should give a credit to the government for setting the right policy.

I'm going to continue to blog about investment and education etc...I have to go for now. Please be civil about this topic. No name calling.

Welcome back Jason,

Could you please give us your take on the life of ordinary people? Has that improved in any way? Are people able to feed themselves and their families considering the economy is improving? Have you traveled beyond Addis and what has changed for the poor farmers and their families.

Hey, Getaw,
we heard about development. What made you write then this craps over hear. How much did they pay to f**k your A**?
[deleted] Cadre!

wow! This is quite unexpected from Jason. Now tell what you know about the expulsion of Amara people from their land.Is there another version to the story ? I stopped posting business and eonomic updates after the expulsion incendent.. None of that means much to me if my people can't move around or live anywhere they choose in Ethiopia

Jason aka Zemen:

First thing first are the iPhone working well for you?

It is good to hear from ppl that go there and see on their own eyes.

I would like to hear your own experience not your friends.

Jason aka Zemen:

First thing first are the iPhone working well for you?

It is good to hear from ppl that go there and see on their own eyes.

I would like to hear your own experience not your friends.

Minilik, always you distribute names to the people, which becomes your main business in the forum. The last name is Jason aka Zemen. So, can you tell us your source of information about Jason aka Zemen?

Trust me, I knew all long Jason is Zemen. I am sure he won't deny that. I am very good at this..not a brag but true..

Zemen used to post several threads adoring Ethio girls and I am sure he got what he wanted.

Zemen /Jason, do not be shy.

Welcome back Jason,

Could you please give us your take on the life of ordinary people? Has that improved in any way? Are people able to feed themselves and their families considering the economy is improving? Have you traveled beyond Addis and what has changed for the poor farmers and their families.

Hi aragaw,

It really is hard to provide you with accurate information, I will try my best...

Sure there is still pockets of the old neighborhoods in Addis Ababa in such places like Eribekentu, Cherkos, Kazanchis still are slums but also i noticed the government is moving folks from Kazanchis to newly built condominiums in Addis. It's a win win situation for the country and for the people because most people find it to be lucrative to be moved from the slums to condos. I hear a lot of folks once they get the apartments, they sub lease the property to renters. I thin in my view based on what i hear, everyone is a winner. In places mentioned above, the investors already started to build modern commercial building as we speak. This sort of things are happening all over Addis Ababa.

As for the economic opportunity for ordinary Ethiopians, so much changed from the past. Today more than ever in Ethiopian history there are millions of people are currently employed in various trades. There are more workers, business owners, millionaires and graduates and aspiring professionals than ever before. And i think given the literacy rate in Ethiopia, it's amazing. What also impress me the most is most folks i met no longer see government as their means of getting ahead in life. They believe in hard work and sacrifice would pay off eventually for the generations to come. The farmers i saw in southern part of Ethiopia are doing excellent. most farmers who farm on 100 hectars or more are earning on average a million to 5 million birr net profit a year. Farmers today are smarter and efficient, they grow their crops based on demands. Today 1 killo onion from "Masa" alone could cost up to 10 to 15 birr and since most of them pump a water from Awash river using a water pump and a drip sytem, they can produce 3 times a year in their land. Today they no longer wait for a rain to drop thanks to better technology.

As for the country side, i spent my time in southern part of Oromia in places like Adama, Asella, Ziway, Shashemene, Hawassa, Gambela, Bale, Jimma, Sidamo and Harerge. And i have seen miles and miles off commercial farming done by foreign and native investors. I find it extremely fascinating to witness such a huge development and all the talk about the land grab is pure Dispora crap. The government doesn't discriminate against Ethiopian investors, but actually encourages it. I've seen many Ethiopians who moved from Abroad and who started commercial farming and they are doing just fine. These folks are creating thousands of full and seasonal jobs for the locals. Sure some locals lost their land when they failed to farm commercially but also I've seen in my own eye foreign investors loose commercial farms due to lack of activity on the land. Eviction policy is not just for ordinary folks rather it a policy of Oromia, Amhara investment office to lease unused land to potential investors.

Inflation is a problem in Addis Ababa but outside Addis commodities tend to be cheep. I've no idea about the northern part of Ethiopia but the south seem to be doing just fine.

Well my friend i encourage you to visit your homeland to see it for yourself.

Trust me, I knew all long Jason is Zemen. I am sure he won't deny that. I am very good at this..not a brag but true..

Zemen used to post several threads adoring Ethio girls and I am sure he got what he wanted.

Zemen /Jason, do not be shy.

This is funny and confused information, which is crucial. How do you know that, Zemen /Jason is a name for one person. Which tool you used or did Elias shared with you this information?

Zemen /Jason, can say the facts about your names? Is this Tigray game or farmers amusement? Zemen is Amhara name, while Jason is British name!

wow! This is quite unexpected from Jason. Now tell what you know about the expulsion of Amara people from their land.Is there another version to the story ? I stopped posting business and eonomic updates after the expulsion incendent.. None of that means much to me if my people can't move around or live anywhere they choose in Ethiopia

YEBANDA,

It's all a crap. Diaspora folks should leave the Ethiopian people alone and stick to what they do best. Drive a taxi.

You can move anywhere in Ethiopia and live you as you wish. No one is stopping folks from achieving their dream if they choose to do so. I must note though, that southern folks have no interest in moving up north.